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Traverse curtain rods utilize a cord over a pulley to draw the curtains open or closed. If the cord in the curtain rod breaks or becomes damaged, the curtains will be stuck in one position. You can fit new cord to curtain tracks to replace the damaged or broken cord in a matter of a few minutes, which will be far less expensive than replacing the entire curtain rod.

1

Position a stepladder in front of the curtain, and lift the curtain hooks out of the curtain rod and carriers. Set the curtains aside.

2

Measure the length of the curtain rod with a tape measure. Measure also from the top of the curtain rod to the floor, and add these two figures together. Double the total and add 6 inches to determine the length of new cord needed. Measure and cut this length of cord from a roll of heavy-duty curtain cord, cutting the length of cord cleanly from the roll with a pair of scissors.

3

Lift the curtain rod off of the the mounting hooks and place it face down on the floor. Untie the knots securing the old cord to the carriers, and pull the old cord sections out of the rod. Push the upper and lower carriers to the center of the rod.

4

Slide one end of the new cord over the top pulley on the end of the rod where you want the draw string to hang, and pull the cord toward the upper carrier. Slip the end of the cord through the leading edge of the upper carrier and tie a knot in the end of the cord to secure it to the carrier.

5

Insert the opposite end of the new cord over the lower pulley on the side of the rod where the draw string will hang, and feed the cord through the rod, beneath the upper carrier and toward the lower carrier. Loop the cord through the lower carrier and pull a few feet of cord past the lower carrier.

6

Pull the end of the cord over the lower pulley on the end of the rod, then loop the cord over the upper pulley. Insert the cord into the upper carrier, and attach it to the carrier with a knot. Adjust the position of the cord in the lower carrier to take up any slack in the cord.

7

Re-hang the curtain rod on the hangers and pull on the hanging draw strings to test the action of the carriers. Make any adjustments to the position of the lower carrier on the cord so that both carriers arrive at the center of the rod or along the edges simultaneously when the respective sides of the draw strings are pulled.

8

Mount the curtain by attaching the hooks to the rod, with the leading hook of each half of the curtain connected to each carrier. Test the opening and closing of the curtain by pulling on the draw strings.

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About the Author

Chris Baylor has been writing about various topics, focusing primarily on woodworking, since 2006. You can see his work in publications such as "Consumer's Digest," where he wrote the 2009 Best Buys for Power Tools and the 2013 Best Buys for Pressure Washers.